[NASL 2014 COUNTDOWN] The NASL will kick off its nine-game spring season on April 12. The shortened season, which will run through June 8 and allow for a midseason
break during the World Cup, will mark the debuts of Indy Eleven and the Ottawa Fury. The season was scheduled to be 10 games, but Virginia Cavalry FC deferred its launch until 2015, meaning the 10
clubs participating in 2014 must each play a nine-game season.

The fall campaign will consist of 18 games. In the first year of split-season play, teams played 12 and 14 games. The New
York Cosmos debuted and won the fall title -- as well as Soccer Bowl 2013.

The winner of the first half of the NASL season will qualify for and earn the right to host NASL Soccer Bowl
2014.

"The owners showed short-term sacrifice in favor of consistency and respect for the global game by sticking to a one-match vs. each team Spring Schedule," said Aaron Davidson, chairman of the NASL board of governors and president of Traffic Sports, ownership group of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Carolina RailHawks. "We
analyzed and understand the consequential imbalance of home games in the spring, but felt that it was more important to ensure the balance of the competition with everyone playing each other once
rather than adding a random 10th match."

The first year of split-season was a mixed bag in terms of drama. The spring season went down until the final day on July 4 with three
teams contending for the title won by the Atlanta Silverbacks. The Cosmos ran way with the fall crown, however.